2019 highlights of events in education (Part IV)

By Dr. Rex Casiple

Five thousand fifty-nine (5,059) out of 9,691 examinees, or 52.2%, passed the Nurse Licensure Examination (NLE) given by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) Board of Nursing in 12 testing centers in June 2019.

West Visayas State University (WVSU) ranked number 1 at the national level among schools with 45 or more examinees and with at least an 85% passing percentage. University of Saint La Salle in Bacolod City ranked No. 2 in the national level among schools with 45 or more examinees and with at least 85% passing percentage.

Almira Louise Olete Hinsoy of WVSU ranked No. 1 among the successful examinees who garnered the 10 highest places at the national level. Furthermore, 13 successful examinees from the Region garnered the ten (10) highest places in the national level.

In AY 2019-2020, an increase in BS Nursing enrolment was noted in almost all colleges and universities in the Region. The nursing schools’ high passing average was an indication of an effective BS Nursing curriculum in the country and a significant improvement in the quality of nursing education.

The PRC Board of Criminology announced that a total of 7,998 out of 20,797 examinees, or 38.5%, passed the Criminologist Licensure Examination given in 12 testing centers in the country in June 2019. Rosanie Galve Bulacja, of Bago City College in Bago City, Negros Occidental ranked number 3 at the national level.

Dengue updates report in 2019 showed that around 13,250 dengue cases have been recorded in the region from January to June. And Western Visayas is tagged as the No. 1 region with the highest number of dengue cases in the country.

Data from the Iloilo provincial health office showed that there were 3,897 dengue cases in the province from January 1 to June 28, 2019. This is 788% higher than the number of cases recorded in the province during the same period in 2018. And for this reason, the governor of the province of Iloilo declared the Dengue Outbreak in July 2019.

The declaration directed all district and provincial hospitals in the province to extend free service and necessary assistance to patients with dengue. There was the formation of the “Brigada Kontra Dengue” program in schools, an effort by the Department of Education (DepEd) in the Province of Iloilo.

On August 3, 2019, eight (8) teachers among 28 died in the Iloilo-Guimaras sea tragedy after three passenger boats capsized due to “pugada” (squall). Pugada is a natural phenomenon characterized by sudden strong wind and rain. Five of the eight teachers were graduate school students processing their requirements for the comprehensive examination.

A week after, heavy rains and strong winds produced by the southwest monsoon or “habagat”, enhanced by typhoon “Hanna”, hit Iloilo City. Classes in the City were suspended for three days due to strong winds and heavy rains. The declaration was timely that no panic and heavy traffic occurred in the City.

The PRC Board of Mechanical Engineering announced that a total of 3,928 out of 5,563 examinees, or 70.61%, passed in the Mechanical Engineers Licensure Examination last August 2019. The Technological University of the Philippines-Visayas ranked number 5 in the category of 50 or more examinees and with at least 80% passing percentage.

In the category of 10 to 49 examinees and with at least 80% passing percentage, Central Philippine University ranked number 1 and Central Philippines State University in Negros Occidental ranked number 7.

The PRC Board of Electrical Engineering announced that a total of 3,285 out of 4,891 examinees nationwide, or 67.16%, passed in the Electrical Engineer Licensure Examinations in August 2019. The University of Saint La Salle (USLS) ranked number 1 at the national level among schools with 10 to 24 examinees and with at least 80% passing percentage. (To be continued)